MS in Instructional Design and Technology Degree Specializations

General Program

This specialization offers a core of education, instructional design, research, project management, and evaluation courses designed to give you a well-rounded education with direct application in the workplace. With a heavy emphasis on leadership, problem-solving skills, and hands-on design experience, this specialization provides a solid foundation for career success.

Embedded in the specialization is a certificate in Instructional Design that you will automatically earn after completing the fifth course. Earning this certificate demonstrates to potential employers the skills you have already gained and to your current employer just how far you have already progressed. Upon graduation, you can also earn an additional certificate in either or both Training and Performance Improvement or Online Learning.

Completion Requirements

30 total semester credits

Core courses (27 sem. credits)

Capstone (3 sem. credits)

This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an enrollment advisor at 855-646-5286.

Organizations, Innovation, and Change

Understanding the fundamentals of organizational behavior and change management are essential for facilitating innovation in any organization. In this course, education professionals examine the role of instructional designers in managing change within an organization. They evaluate leadership qualities and practices that foster and sustain innovation in various settings, such as corporations, higher education, K–12 education, government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. They also explore the resistance to change and barriers to innovation as well as problem-solving techniques that promote competitive advantage.

Learning Theories and Instruction

Effective instructional design begins with an understanding of the learning process. The behaviorist, cognitive, constructivist, and social learning theories and their relationship to instructional practices and course design are also examined. Factors that influence learning, such as learning styles, motivation, and engagement, are also explored.

Multimedia Design and Development I

In this first of two multimedia courses, students take a systematic approach to the design and development of multimedia for instruction. Specifically, students will explore various applications within the Adobe Creative Cloud. Applying basic principles of visual literacy, students gain practical experience with text, graphics, and web design for the creation of interactive learning experiences.

Multimedia Design and Development II

In this second of two multimedia courses, students take a systematic approach to the design and development of multimedia for instruction. Specially, students will continue to explore the various applications within the Adobe Creative Cloud, as well as Adobe Captivate. Applying basic principles of visual literacy, students gain practical experience with audio, video, and screen capturing for the creation of interactive learning experiences.

Instructional Design

In this course, educators learn the foundational principles and elements of the instructional systems development process, from analysis through evaluation. They explore commonly used instructional design models, such as ADDIE, and they learn how to apply them in an education or training environment. They gain an understanding of the preliminary phases of instructional design models, such as writing instructional objectives and conducting analyses. Educators also focus on incorporating sound instructional strategies into the design and development of instructional systems and into the development of prototypes in real-world instructional settings.

Advanced Instructional Design

This course is designed to extend educators’ knowledge and application of the instructional design process. Educators gain a deeper understanding of best practices for implementing and evaluating education and training programs. They engage in a variety of assignments that emphasize the delivery of instruction and the various strategies for assessing student learning both during and after instruction. Educators demonstrate their understanding of course concepts by solving a real-world instructional or performance improvement problem. Intended to be taken after EIDT 6100.)

Foundations of Research

An introduction to the principles and processes of research is provided in this course. Education professionals explore the various steps and considerations of the research process. They develop an understanding of basic research methodologies and statistical analyses, learn how to formulate research problems and questions, conduct a literature review, and critique and evaluate research. Additionally, they consider the ethical responsibilities of the researcher.

Distance Learning

Online education could be the driving force that transforms education and training practices in the 21st century. Through this lens, education professionals explore the current trends impacting the field of distance education and their implications for the design and development of distance-learning programs. They examine the different models, theories, and technologies used in the development and delivery of online education and training programs. They also explore the implications and considerations of designing instruction for blended, fully online, instructor-led, and self-paced learning environments.

Project Management in Education and Training

Purposeful and careful planning is a key element to the success of any program. In this course, education professionals explore the systematic approaches to project management. Education professionals learn to use various project management tools, procedures, and methodologies, which they apply to projects in a real-world education or training environment. They also analyze the interrelated nature of the triple constraints of time, cost, and scope as well as their influence on the overall quality of the project.

Capstone

Capstone: Practical Application of Instructional Design

This course is the culminating experience for the program. Educators are provided with the opportunity to exhibit their knowledge, skills, and creativity in an authentic situation. They demonstrate their ability to integrate instructional design principles and practical skills and apply them to a real-world learning or performance problem. Educators work with a client in a consultative capacity or explore a case study that may include front-end analyses; design, development, and implementation of performance support and instructional materials; and/or evaluation of an instructional or performance support program. Completion of all other program coursework.)

Technology Requirements

In addition to Walden’s general technical requirements, this program requires the following:

Windows XP/Vista or Mac OS X

There are also free, downloadable software programs that may be required in order to complete the course and program requirements.

Questions about our MS in Instructional Design and Technology program?

Questions about our MS in Instructional Design and Technology program?

We're here to help. Talk to your personal enrollment advisor for more information today. Please use our International Form if you live outside of the U.S.

We're here to help. Talk to your personal enrollment advisor for more information today. Please use our Domestic Form if you live in the U.S.

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